Can I Rent an Apartment in Santa Clara Before the Super Bowl?

My desire to go to Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara is strong. However, it’s not strong enough to pay for a hotel stay.

When I saw the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose offer a $150,000 package for a three-night stay, I shrugged my shoulders and figured market forces were hard at work. But when I saw the Fairmont in San Francisco offer a $1 million packagefor a four-night stay, I was stunned and left with questions: How many mints will they leave on my pillow for $250,000 a night? Are there enough mints in the world? Most important, where else could I stay in the San Francisco Bay Area?

I didn’t get an answer on the mints, but I did find five possibilities in Santa Clara. I set out to see if it was possible to score an apartment close to Levi’s Stadium before Sunday’s kickoff. While signing a last-minute lease to bunk down for one big weekend might be cuckoo, it’s no more crazy than spending seven figures to stay at a hotel 45 miles away.

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I started at the Estancia at Santa Clara, which is only about a mile away from the stadium, according to leasing consultant Claudio Cordero. A brisk 20-minute walk on game day sounds great. Cordero said I could move in immediately to a one-bedroom unit with a private garage for $2,494 a month. Sweet!

Estancia

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But that comes with a 12-month lease. I explained to Cordero that I needed a place for a shorter term. He offered great news: There’s also an option for a three-month lease at $2,994 a month. So for a little less than nine grand (plus security deposit), I’d have a party palace for 12 weekends beyond the Super Bowl. Take that, Fairmont!

Cordero did warn me that subletting isn’t allowed at the Estancia, so I wouldn’t be able to cash in on the days when I wouldn’t be at my personal Super Bowl HQ. He also added that I could move in “ASAP” to my third-floor unit at the “simple and elegant” complex.

River Terrace

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Sticking close to the stadium, I spoke with Alexis Calvillo at River Terrace. Also about a mile from the Super Bowl site, the complex is running at about 97% occupancy. Calvillo said I could move in today to a one-bedroom on a three-month lease at $3,771 a month. A bit pricier than the Estancia, River Terrace promises a “Mediterranean-styled swimming pool and rejuvenating hydro-massage spa” for residents. No subletting is available, but it’s a fine choice if you don’t mind spending $11,313 for a walkable spot to the Super Bowl.

Venturing farther afield, I looked at apartments in the Village Green complex, about six miles from Levi’s. A long walk to be sure, but totally worth it if I could score a deal. Nancy Sandberg, senior resident manager, said the location is “not walkable” to the Super Bowl. When I asked if you could see the stadium from the apartment, she helpfully added “not unless you got up in an airplane.” Sandberg said only two units are available out of the 98 in the building, and both of those won’t be ready until at least Feb. 10.

Village Green

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Sad to say, I was tackled for a loss at the Village Green. I tried two more apartment complexes—neither of which is walkable to Levi’s—and found workable options at each location.

At the Flora Vista apartments, property manager Amanda Blackketter said she had a one-bedroom unit available. It would be $2,150 per month for a six-month lease and about a 15-minute drive to the stadium (sans traffic!). Almost thirteen large, but it’s available for immediate move-in. Blackketter added that while the stadium wasn’t within walking distance, the neighborhood around the complex is great for strolling—she said the building has a walk score of 87.

Flora Vista

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At the Lawrence Road apartments, community manager Adel Robles said she wouldn’t suggest trying to walk to the game from her location. She did have units available immediately, but added that an applicant would need to get a credit check, which could take three days. That would be cutting it close. If you don’t mind sweating it out, a one-bedroom unit is $1,895 and available only on a 12-month lease. I couldn’t see myself locking into a year at $22,740 for a unit without in-room laundry, but the monthly cost was the cheapest of the options I found.

Lawrence Road

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While I wouldn’t recommend last-minute apartment rentals as a solution to a Super problem, it is possible to find a place to stay in Santa Clara for the big game. Now where’s my mint?